by Judi Lynn
Had he really slept a full eight hours? He felt wonderful, rejuvenated. And it was all thanks to Miriam.
Chapter 30
On Friday Joel was working with Dave in the kitchen when someone knocked on the back door and stepped inside. The buzzer went off and Joel glanced at the security screen to see who’d arrived early for work. Not an employee: Miles. Footsteps sounded in the hallway and Joel froze for a second. He was already pushed for time. He’d told Miriam and Adele to sleep in, that he’d have Ross do setup this morning, but Ross had yet to show up. Joel suspected he didn’t intend to . . . ever again.
Miles glanced in the kitchen and stopped when he saw Joel. He looked down at his feet, wouldn’t meet Joel’s eyes. “Can we talk?”
Joel put on a smile. “Sure; let’s go in my office.” He glanced at Dave. Dave had to see the similarities between them—the same coloring and build, except for Joel’s potbelly—but he didn’t ask questions, just gave Joel a thumbs-up.
“I’m in good shape. No worries.”
Joel led Miles down the hallway and held his office door for him, shutting it behind them once they were inside. He turned to his brother with a frown. “You lost your job?”
“It’s not what you think. I stayed sober until they let the whole custodial staff go. They decided to go with an outside crew that was cheaper. They won’t have to pay benefits that way either.” Miles grimaced. “They’ll get what they deserve. No more quality work, just the basics.”
Joel’s anger left as quickly as it had come. “I’m sorry. You liked that job.”
“Employers don’t give a shit about workers anymore. I lost it for a minute, bought a bottle to make me feel better, but I didn’t want to move back in with Mom and Dad. When they told me about your new place, I thought I’d come here to look for a job.”
Joel studied him. “Are you sober now?”
“Yup. Have been since Monday. I don’t want to go that route again.”
Miles’s voice had an edge to it that Joel hadn’t heard for a long time. He nodded. “My assistant manager didn’t show today. I could use someone to bounce around wherever he’s needed. Have you ever managed before?”
“I was over the entire crew at the factory.”
Joel blinked. He hadn’t known that. “Perfect; then you should be fine. Let’s see what you’ve got.” He hesitated. “I bought a trailer and put it across the parking lot, near the trees, in case you needed a place to stay.”
Miles stared at him. “For me?”
“But you can only work in the brewery as long as you have your shit together. Is this the right place for you? Will the beer tempt you too much?”
Miles pulled a face. “I hate beer, only drink the hard stuff. But I’m done with that, too. I hope.”
He was being honest. That made Joel feel better. No false confidence. His brother knew he’d have to work to stay clean, probably for the rest of his life.
“I joined AA when I got the job at the factory, didn’t want to drink it away. I’ve learned I can’t beat my demons myself. I need help.”
“If you can hold it together, you and I could manage this place together as a team. Nothing would make me happier.” Being with Miriam would make him as happy, though. That was for sure. “Come on. I’ll show you the trailer. You can move in after we close up tonight.” He opened his desk drawer and pressed a key into Miles’s hand.
They crossed the parking lot and long yard to the double-wide. Miles opened the door and shook his head. He closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath. “You even furnished it. You bought a big-screen TV.”
“Welcome home, Bro.” Miles looked like he might break down, so Joel said, “You’ll have to enjoy all this later. Right now, I plan to work you to death. You need to learn the ropes.”
Miles squared his shoulders. “I’m ready to dig in.”
Joel introduced him to everyone and explained that Ross was a no-show and his brother had come to help out.
“Where should I start?” Miles asked.
“With setup. Ask Audrie. She’ll put you to work.” He led him to the food counter and handed him over to her, then left them to it. It had been hard for Miles to make himself come here, he knew. He’d give him some time to adjust.
When Miriam and Adele walked through the doors before he opened for business, Miriam stared at the tables and smiled. “Thanks for asking Ross to fill in for us. We’ve had a great time.”
They stood side by side, bumping shoulders. They looked happy with each other. Relief swam through his veins. They must have had a good night.
Joel wrapped an arm around her. The world should know how he felt about her. “Ross never showed. My brother did. He’s fast and efficient.” He motioned to Miles, wrapping silverware at the counter. Adele laughed when she saw him and opened her arms for a hug. Miles went to her and wrapped her in a close embrace. “Hello, Sunshine!”
He’d always called her that because of her bright blond hair. Then he turned to Miriam. “We were never formally introduced. I’m Miles.”
“And I’m Miriam.” She’d been watching him closely. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“About my parents’ house . . .”
“You didn’t expect to see us. You were a little under the weather, but you look better now.”
He smiled. “I am better now. Thank you.”
Joel looked at Miriam, amazed by her as usual. “That was nice.”
She shrugged. “He wants this to work. So do you. We’ll all do what we can to help it along.”
Joel looked at the clock, then, and walked to the doors to open them. There was a line, as usual. More and more tourists were stopping there before they went from shop to shop in town. Joel had worried he was taking away business from Ralph’s Diner, but Tyne told him Ralph’s was full, too.
“Everybody’s busy,” Miriam told him. “Chase had to hire Louise’s daughter to help with the outside tables. He and Harley trade off using the college kids to work their bars so they can get a couple nights off a week. Ian’s resort is full, every room taken for the rest of the season. A few people in town are talking about converting their big, old houses into bed-and-breakfasts.”
Miles looked surprised. “Sounds like they’d be hitting at the right time.”
People crowded the counters, so there was no more time to talk. They hurried to wait on the customers. Joel was happy to see Miles had a natural, easy style to keeping things flowing. He was ten times better than Ross, without training, on his first day. When there was a short lull at three thirty, Joel invited him to join him, Adele, and Miriam for a quick lunch on the back patio.
“I love your Reuben dog,” Miles said, biting into his second one. “I noticed every choice seemed to sell well.”
Joel couldn’t keep the pride from his voice. “I’m pretty happy about that. Tyne helped me, though. He’s one of the chefs at the Lakeview Stables Resort.”
“You have enough variety to keep customers coming back for more.” Miles looked at Miriam. “Are you going to work here all summer?”
She shook her head. “Nah. I was just backup in case there were start-up problems. That, and I wanted to keep an eye on Joel to make sure no pretty young things were hitting on my man.”
Adele’s jaw dropped. “Would you be jealous? Of Dad?” She couldn’t seem to wrap her mind around the idea.
Miriam finished her beer and chuckled. “Hell yes. That’s part of being in love.”
Miles stared. “When did you guys get serious?”
Miriam didn’t wait for Joel to answer. “While Adele was on the trip with her grandma and grandpa.”
“And you’re in love?” Miles sounded as surprised as Adele had been. No one had expected Joel to find someone else, including him.
Miriam’s blue eyes sparkled. “It’s too soon to be sure, but we sure like each other a lot.”
Miles finished his root beer and gave his brother a small punch on the arm. “Good for you! It’s Friday, man. Why
don’t you let me finish up here after supper so you can leave early? Go have some fun.”
“Not tonight.” It was too soon. “But I might take you up on that tomorrow night, once I walk you through closing and locking up. Eventually, I’d like to take a day or two off. That’s why I hired an assistant manager. And then I can cover so you can take time off, too. Mill Pond is a great place for a fresh start. You’ll see.”
Miles ran a hand over his forehead, looking bemused.
Joel knew how he felt. He sort of felt that way, too. Nothing in life ever came this easy. “Things are falling into place,” he said. “We’ll get there. Between the two of us, this place will run like clockwork.” That’s what he hoped for, what he wanted.
Miles nodded. “I think so, too, but who’d have thought?”
Exactly.
Adele looked worried. “You’re still going to spend the night with Miriam and me, aren’t you, Dad?”
“Are you kidding? I can’t wait. I’ll just get to her house a little later than you do.”
Satisfied with his answer, Adele looked at Miles. “Can I spend the night at your trailer sometime?”
“Would you like that?” He sounded hopeful.
“Will you watch Grease with me?” She knew better than to ask him to watch a Disney movie.
He laughed. “I could force myself to watch Olivia Newton-John in skintight black pants.”
Miriam rolled her eyes. “Men!”
They were still laughing when they walked back into the brewery and got to work. Miriam and Adele stayed until after the supper rush and then headed to Miriam’s cottage. Joel led Miles to his office and showed him where the safe was and how he kept his books.
“If you just throw the receipts for the day in the safe with the money, I can do the rest in the morning.”
“You didn’t show this to the young kid who just quit, did you?”
Joel gave him a look. “Hell no.”
“But you showed it to me? On the first day on the job. Aren’t you worried at all? What if I backslide and need money for booze?”
Joel caught and held his gaze. “Have you ever stolen before in your life?”
“No.”
“Then why would you steal from me? Give yourself some credit, Miles. You’ve made some mistakes, just like I did. Let’s move past them.”
“Maybe it scares me when things feel too good.”
“You think you’re the only one? I can hardly believe Miriam wants anything to do with me. I can hardly believe I opened the doors of this place for business and customers showed up. I’m still pinching myself.”
Miles stared at him. “I thought it was just me.”
“Get over yourself. Start thinking that life can get better. It just might.”
They went back on the floor to help finish for the night. Business didn’t slow down until closing at eight. Maybe a good thing. They didn’t have a chance to worry. A lot of customers stayed right up until last call. Then they left to go to Chase’s bar or Harley’s winery.
“If you wanted to, you could stay busy lots later on the brewery side,” Miles said.
Joel glanced at Collin and Casey. “They work long-enough hours. I’d rather start slow and add more employees a little at a time.”
Miles nodded. “Ease into things. That’s what I’m going to do.”
When the last person walked out of the building, Joel showed his brother his routine for closing and locking up. He introduced him to how to set the security system, too. Then he said, “I have a spare key for your trailer if you lose yours. If you look in the cupboards and freezer when you get home, I stocked up a few things for you. There are some frozen TV dinners and breakfast burritos, and there’s toilet paper, soap, and toothpaste in the bathroom.”
“Home.” Miles shook his head. “Thanks for everything, Joel. I never expected . . .” He looked away and started toward his truck. He stopped and looked back at his brother. “You won’t regret this.”
“I’m not worried about that. It’s going to be nice being in business together.”
Miles opened his truck door and ran a hand over his face, visibly fighting for composure. “It’s going to be great.”
Joel gave a wave and drove away. Miriam and Adele would be waiting for him.
Chapter 31
When Miriam settled Adele in her old Mercedes and started to her cottage, she paused at the edge of the brewery’s parking lot. “We get to go home and relax, but your dad always stays and works till the very end. I’d like to make him something fun to eat when he gets home tonight. He has to be as tired of hot dogs as we are.”
Adele’s forehead crinkled in thought. “We don’t know how to cook.”
“Well, that’s a problem, but groceries have frozen food sections, don’t they? And stuff that’s convenient and easy.”
“A cake?” Adele always went for dessert.
“No, something that will stick to his ribs, the kind of food his mom makes, but it has to be simple.”
“Grandma can make anything,” Adele said.
“Yeah, that’s why we have to cheat.” Miriam stopped at Art’s Grocery and told him her predicament. “I don’t cook. It has to be something I can’t mess up.” She’d thought about calling Tyne, but as a chef, he never made anything that didn’t take a cupboard full of ingredients. “Do you have anything I can make?” she asked Art.
He grinned. “I have you covered. For a while I advertised a recipe a week, featuring ingredients I put on special with a sale price. I wanted it to be just a few easy steps. Customers loved it, but my Mary got sick of trying to think of ideas for it, so it fizzled. She still makes the chicken and dumpling recipe she came up with, though, and it’s delicious.”
“How many steps?” Miriam asked.
“She simplified the recipe from one of her favorite cookbooks—In the Kitchen with David by David Venable—until even a monkey could make it.” He grinned. “Not that I’m comparing you to one.”
She shrugged. “Wouldn’t bother me. A monkey might be better in the kitchen. I need a dump-and-stir recipe.”
“Then this one’s for you.”
He grabbed a brown grocery sack and a marker, then began to write down the recipe. “First, oil the bottom of a Dutch oven.”
She stopped him. “A what?”
“A big pan with tall sides you use to make soups and stews.”
“I’ve got one of those.”
“Good. Heat the oil, then add a bag of frozen mirepoix.” He saw her look and said, “A bag of frozen diced onions, carrots, and celery.”
“In your freezer section?”
“With the vegetables. Sauté those until they’re tender, then add a bag of frozen, diced, cooked chicken breasts. I stock those close to the frozen chicken nuggets. Add some salt and pepper and let them cook until they start to brown. Now, add a sprinkle of dried parsley, a sprinkle of dried thyme, and two bay leaves.”
She frowned.
“They’re in the spice section, above the kosher salt. After you stir those in, pour in a thirty-two-ounce box of chicken broth.”
“That’s by the soups?”
He nodded. “When everything gets hot, pop open a tube of flaky biscuits, flatten each one on a floured board, cut them into bite-sized pieces, and drop them in the soup. Mary didn’t use the whole tube, just added as many as she wanted. Turn the heat down and let the dumplings cook through. They’re going to puff up a lot. Then take out the bay leaves and you’re ready to go.”
She glanced at Adele. “We can do that, right?”
Adele nodded, but then, Adele was always optimistic. She thought the adults she loved could do anything.
Art pointed to the dairy case. “The biscuits are there.” He handed Miriam the grocery bag with the recipe written on it. “Good luck.”
Miriam was optimistic until the drive home. Then she wondered what the hell she’d been thinking. But Art was right; she’d never find an easier recipe than this. It truly was a dump-
and-stir. And if worse came to worse, she’d bought a chocolate cake.
Tommy and Tuppence were excited when she and Adele carried the plastic grocery bags into the kitchen. They sulked when no cans of cat food came out of them, but they purred when Miriam opened the bag of frozen, diced chicken and dumped it in the pan. Once the pieces cooked through, she scooped out a few of them for each cat. Maybe a mistake. They wove themselves around her ankles, begging for more.
Adele was the designated stir person.
“Be careful when I pour in the broth. Don’t splash yourself,” Miriam warned.
When Miriam popped the biscuit tube, Adele had fun pressing each biscuit in flour on both sides while Miriam cut them. By the time they’d finished, the broth was hot, and they started to drop the small squares of dough into the mix.
“Look!” Miriam watched as the dough puffed up and soaked up some of the liquid. “They’re getting big.”
They’d barely finished before Joel walked into the cottage. They glanced at each other, proud of themselves. He sniffed and raised his eyebrows. “What’s up? Something smells wonderful in here.”
Miriam lifted the lid and pointed. “Adele and I made chicken and dumplings for you.”
He backed away, nervous.
“I tried them, Dad. They’re good,” Adele said. “We’ve been waiting to eat with you.”
“You waited? That was nice of you. Let’s dig in.” He went into the kitchen to sit at the small table for four. Miriam plopped the Dutch oven on a trivet in the center and handed each of them a bowl. “Bon appétit!”